It has been reported that the White House has sent a message to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschel (D-S.D.) urging him to schedule a vote on a version of the anti-online gaming bill recently passed in the House of Representatives. And while the White house finds the bill exceedingly important, support for the bill is lacking within the general public. Numerous public polls have been recently conducted to gauge public opinion on Internet gaming as the issue readies for the senate floor, overwhelming the public’s opinion has proven in favor of net gaming.

Proponents of legalized online gaming are abundantly available in local Nevada and New Jersey (two states with casino gambling) politics, and both states have seen bills that would expressly legalize and regulate online gaming. Opponents to online gaming site addiction and money laundering as the conspicuous evils that arise when gambling from home with a non-U.S. Internet casino.

Despite the White House’s intervention, some senators are still doubtful that online gaming will reach the Senate floor in 2002. A spokesperson for Harry Reid, (D-N.V.) said any action this session is “highly unlikely” and legal pundits expert in this field agree.

This instance is the first reported whereas the White House has exerted pressure on a senator to act on online gaming. Now it’s a matter of waiting to see if the White House’s persuasions influence Senator Daschel more than the voice of the populous.